Words to live by

Please welcome Canadian author, Sarah Butland to Magic of the Muses. Sarah is revving up to release her inspirational book BEING GRATEFUL, BEING THANKFUL.

Author, Sarah Butland

She gives you a lovely taster of what's between the covers of her upcoming release.

Welcome to the Magic, Sarah...

Excerpt from BEING GRATEFUL, BEING THANKFUL

 Wherever you are in life, wherever you are right at this moment you have much to be thankful.

You likely hear the words “thank you” as much as you say and hear the words I'm sorry in a day, but it's important to listen to it and say it with meaning. To truly be grateful is to appreciate where you are and where you've been, so that you can know where you will be going and as well as how to get there.

With the Law of Attraction being on everyone's mind, it seems the world still finds it challenging to think in the positive and be appreciative of where they are and what they have. If you struggle with this, or if you don't really, this book is for you.

Not every chapter may be relevant to you at the time you read it, I encourage you to read it. You may read the chapters in any order you choose; I do encourage you to read them all for greatest effect.

Why? Let's say, for instance, you don't currently have your drivers license, so at first you think it silly to be thankful for that. Take a moment and wonder if you would ever like to have your license. To have that independence and freedom to grab the keys and go when you're ready and not when you can afford a cab or at the whim of another driver. Reading this chapter now will send your intention to your future so it understands how wonderful you will feel when you have your license.

Life is about feeling- something science nor religion can ever truly explain. When you experience gratitude, even in just a small dose, your vibrations are on alert and you smile a little. Standing a little bit taller, you suddenly feel proud and good, no matter who you are, and in doing so reflect this genuine feeling back to others around you.

What would happen if everyone appreciated everything for their experience and what it had to teach them? Quite literally, the world is already filled with energy, so this would work to amplify that magnificence to eventually heal the world.

We all think we want more time in our day. Envy the younger generation for their ability to wake up playing and continue to play all day, if we'd let them. Many of us say we'd be able to play if only we didn't have to drain ourselves to pay the bills

This attitude stops now.

My request of you is to begin posting a thank you to someone in your life on a daily basis. Through social media we can all easily show appreciation and make someone's day a little better with just a few words of public gratitude.

I'm working on getting BEING GRATEFUL, BEING THANKFUL in print this month to ensure people can gift it for Christmas and would love to see your support. You can donate or share, anything you can give back helps literacy around the world. https://pubslush.com/project/3099

This guest spot is brought to you by:

THE TRAZ School Edition

Complete with a list of international resources for those seeking help with, or information about, the social issues explored in this gritty thriller--gangs, drugs, depression, addictions.

 "A compelling read that will keep you turning the pages."

"grief, fears and…overwhelming struggle..."

"…takes the reader on a whirlwind of emotion”

“An amazingly insightful story paralleling so many youth I work with”

“A young unhappy 13-yr old girl…caught up in a violent world..." 

“A fast-paced read, populated with interesting characters”

Oh, that magic!

I'm pleased to have fellow Canadian author Sarah Butland as my guest on Magic of the Muses. After reading her post about the magic of writing, you'll understand how she got her reputation as a mystical, lyrical writer.

Authors Are As Magical As Readers

Sarah Butland

Worlds are created with the stroke of a pen or the press of a letter on a keyboard. Worlds that many enter without bumping into anyone they know but inhabited by characters that welcome them all the same. These characters, created from the power of the mind, are always the beginning of something great though not always in a positive way.

Many of these characters are much like our neighbours, spouses and kids but with a dash of something more. The setting, the plot, the timing of everything the character does may seem familiar but adds a flair to our otherwise boring or too challenging life.

Authors aren't necessarily witches just as readers are not always their toads but both can easily turn into a prince or turn the page into a welcoming castle. Magic is not always cloaks, daggers and rabbits and potions, each book discovered, whether fictional or non, has a mystique all its own and it's up to each of us to embrace it and volunteer to be mystified.

It's easy to fall in love with some books and want more after it concludes just as easy as it is for some authors to want to give more, to listen more attentively and to ensure their readers are swept away in their creations.

Readers are magical as they put their trust in a stranger, purchase a book with the click of a button or the swipe of plastic and carry home worlds in their bags with promises to visit them momentarily. These same readers, authors and non-writers alike, hold the power of success in their hands each and every day by choosing to purchase, write a review or share the book with a friend. A simple task that doesn't require eye of newt or a cauldron, a top hat or a trick, can make the day of the writer who holds many worlds between their eyes, back of head and their fingertips.

So as you rush your children off to school, as you prepare the classroom to teach your pupils, or feel the crisp change in the are I ask you to embrace your own world for a moment and realize how good it feels to receive a gift from a friend or stranger. A gift such as a smile while you walk by, an attentive ear or a watchful eye, a written poem or a simple card can be magical in that it makes a bad day seem silly.

Discovering a new to you author, enjoying their creation and telling them so continues the miracle that is positivity and makes more magic – something we need more of today.

While you read this I, like many authors, are struggling to get noticed, to get downloads and sales but not necessarily to make money (I'm sure you heard, it's not a lot). Most authors do this to pass on the magic of literacy by ensuring everyone can find something they enjoy reading. By supporting and independent author or any author in fact, and sharing your thoughts you, too, can spread the worth of literacy every time you have the chance.

Write a review and spread the word – the god of the book you just read deserves that much!

Thanks for reading,

Sarah Butland

author of SENDING YOU SAMMY , BRAIN TALES - VOLUME ONE and ARM FARM

Please visit me at www.SarahButland.com to support myself and many other authors.  This month as everyone heads back to school, the leaves start changing colour and the air brings a chill I am bringing you lots of reading material in hopes you'll find something you love to read. While I am putting forth a huge effort to bring awareness to my own books I understand that everyone wants something different to read. Please show a huge welcome to all my guests by commenting and checking out their books.

Sarah Butland was born in Ontario, the year was 1982. She was moved to New Brunswick for over 15 years and now resides at home in Nova Scotia, Canada. Butland has been married to her high school sweetheart and has a superstar son named William, and a cat named Russ who all make her house a home.

After  many stories, attempts at novels and thousands of ideas later, Butland created BananaBoy and the Adventures of Sammy was born. SENDING YOU SAMMY is her first published children’s book. Then came BRAIN TALES - VOLUME ONE --a collection of short stories and finally ARM FARM, her current literary pride and joy.

Enter Sarah's contest! 

Great Prizes!

 $25 Amazon Gift Card and MORE!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Rafflecopter - Giveaway :) www.rafflecopter.com Oh, that magic! was brought to you by THE TRAZ

"They draw her into the dark world of drugs, murder & lawlessness..."

"Exciting, powerful, & tragic. Young adult book for all ages"

 "The whole thing ends on a knife edge..."

Facts & Fiction

At first glance, it may seem silly for fiction writers to do research for their stories--unless, perhaps, one is writing historical fiction. After all, most people don’t read novels expecting to be educated. (Does anyone really care if laptops were around in 1995 when my young heroine in THE TRAZ acquired one?)

Actually, I've discover that many people do care, and the more obvious the factual error the higher percentage of readers notice and care. Why? Because it interferes with the images the written words are creating in the minds of readers. If readers can’t imagine the action happening, rather than focusing on the characters and plot, they’ll try to adjust the scene they are reading to fit the reality they know.  This spoils their enjoyment of the story.

Although laptops were around in 1995, if my story had taken place in 1955 and I threw in a laptop, I think you can imagine how distracting that would be. As a reader, you’d be poised to experience this tale in the world of 1955 and then suddenly, you’d be jolted away from the story by the incongruity.

Very skillful writers can make anachronisms meld smoothly into the plot so the reader doesn’t notice or doesn’t care, but alas, most of us are not close to being that talented.

As I often incorporate little known facts into my stories, even though my research is impeccable it remains a challenge to smoothly convince readers that the story is credible.  For example, in THE TRAZ, Katrina, my 13 year-old heroine, opens a bank account in her name only and deposits a large sum of money that her grandfather gifted her.  Her guardian has no control over the account.*  Alas, fiction writers can’t use little asterisks and footnotes to cite sources but must find other ways to promote their credibility.

Some authors use a plethora of details to lend authenticity. One mystery I read had four paragraphs on what contact lenses were like in 1965—I found that quite distracting, especially since contact lenses had nothing to do with the murder.

Other writers will use the back covers of their novels (Author, Eileen Schuh, who bought her first laptop in 1995, ....  Or ‘thank you’ pages (Eileen wishes to thank Sarah Butland for providing valuable banking info…) or sometimes their blogs and/or websites to shout to the world that they know of what they speak!

Oh….wait a minute….

*This scenario complies with Canada's banking laws and policies.

If you have a helpful hint on how fiction writers can increase their credibility, please leave a comment below.

For more research hints visit my blog at http://criminalmindsatwork.blogspot.com/


Eileen Schuh, Author
Schrödinger’s Cat
http://www.eileenschuh.com/

"Brain Tales" by author Sarah Butland

“At Ease”

The archaic language...
Or perhaps, the tears.
The short, confusing journeys that take forever.
Surreal. Compelling.
One loses a child and suddenly and thereafter, the world makes no sense.
“Once the tears reached the river the reflection distorted and then reshaped…”

Must re-read this deceptively simple tale...

At Ease—A Sarah Butland Brain Tales story

_____________________

Sarah, why do you write?

Like many writers say, I write because I have to. My mind, my heart and my soul all continually tell stories and I try to do them justice by writing some down. Some turn out to be muddled useless anecdotes that I keep to myself while others need to be shared with the world. I also write because I love to.

If your time and your energy were a pie, how big a piece would be devoted to your writing?

Eight weeks ago I would have said 98% of the pie would be the piece I wanted to devote to my writing, with a sliver being the actual amount I did. Now, with a new born to look after and love I am actually writing a lot more (while he sleeps and entertains himself for a few hours each day) so I'd now say a reasonable size piece, not to make one feel bloated but just right after a healthy meal. :)

People read for many reasons (entertainment, enlightenment, education, spiritual fulfillment.) Which of humanities needs and/or desires do you see your writing fulfilling?

My writing has been primarily focused toward the entertainment aspect of reading. Very light, quick reads that have my readers wanting to read more while they relax on the beach.

What role does cyberspace play in your writing career? What does your future writing career look like?

With many of my own websites I've been given the opportunity to blog about random things, specific things, meet many fellow authors and aspiring authors as well as learn so much through marketing and writing sites.
I plan to have my writing career take off any day now and, although I plan to go back to my full time job as I love it, writing is what I do best.

Where can people find/purchase your published work? Unpublished works?

Sending You Sammy and Brain Tales Volume One, my two published works thus far, can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Chapters websites as well as local stores in Comox, British Columbia and Moncton, New Brunswick. Unpublished works can be found at www.SarahButland.com.

What advice do you have for me and other aspiring novelists?

Keep at it! Of course it's a cliche but this one is the best one out there. Do it for yourself most of all, if you're truly a writer the only audience you really need is you. Any readers who love your work after that make you quiver with delight.

Thank you for the interesting questions and for posting this, Eileen. Very much appreciated.
Sarah Butland

Thank you, Sarah, for sharing with us.
Enjoy that little one! Give him a cuddle and kiss for me....